Who We are

Beles Abebe, a rising senior from Holly Springs, NC, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Chemistry and Global Health, enjoys taking photographs of loved ones and nature, adores children and working with them, and is interested in research pertaining to social determinants of health and addressing healthcare disparities.

Kristin Ankoma-Sey is a rising junior from Houston, TX, majoring in Cultural Anthropology who hopes to pursue a career as a physician. She currently conducts research in the Willis lab about mimulus guttatus and has previously conducted research about electronic medical records. Some of her hobbies include reading, travelling, and gardening.

Elizabeth is a rising junior majoring in Computer Science with a certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She has software engineering and product management experience from a variety of academic and professional projects and is broadly interested in the topics of data privacy, algorithm bias, and tech for social good. This summer she will be working at Zoom as product management intern. On campus, she is the Vice President of Hack DTech, a Duke Technology Scholar, a product manager within Duke Applied Machine Learning, and involved with the Duke Women in Technology program and FEMMES. In her free time, Elizabeth can be found spending time outdoors, traveling, and trying new foods.

Connor Blue is a junior Psychology major with minors in Chemistry and German from Denver, CO. He does research on how creativity intersects with organic chemistry and aspires to a career in international medical relief.

Ethan Bott, a fourth year Psychology major from Soldotna, AK, is most passionate about issues of substance use/addiction, healthcare inequalities, and education reform, and he currently conducts research on Pompe disease. In his free time, Ethan enjoys exercising, watching sports, and spending time with his friends and family.

Sara Ann is a rising junior majoring in Computer Science and Public Policy. Her academic focus is tech policy, particularly data privacy legislation and antitrust enforcement. On campus, she is a co-founder of Tech for Equity, a student-run initiative that connects students with technical abilities with nonprofits they can assist, and a member of DTech and Women in Technology. She also is a research assistant for Professor David Hoffman, investigating data privacy legislation internationally as part of the Platform Accountability project.

Millie Caughey is a freshman from Auckland, New Zealand. She enjoys debating, writing and roller skating. She is excited to learn more about how people’s backgrounds shape their ideas of ethics.

Rodrigo De La Vega is from Guatemala City, Guatemala. He is a Duke Kunshan student majoring in biology interested in pursuing a career as a researcher. Outside of school, he enjoys hiking with friends and playing sports like basketball and volleyball.

Dagny Edison is a junior double majoring in Political Science and Classical Civilizations from Charlotte, North Carolina. She enjoys reading about ethics and philosophy and is excited to engage with the Duke community on ethical issues. Dagny is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, Duke’s Pre-Law fraternity, and works as an SAT and ACT tutor. Outside of school, she loves playing disc golf, painting, discovering new music, and going to local concerts.

Abigail Eun is an incoming sophomore at Duke University from Los Angeles, California. She is planning to double-major in Computer Science and Public Policy with a certificate in Policy Journalism and Media Studies. Eun is interested in the ethical and moral applications of technology in healthcare, education, and politics. At Duke, she is a board member for the Chronicle's Community Editorial Board, a research assistant for Ethical Tech, and a volunteer for GANO.

Melody Gao is a junior from Folsom, CA. She is majoring in History with a concentration in American history and minors in Chemistry and Spanish. She loves visiting history museums and historic sites, volunteering with the elderly, and practicing Taekwondo.

Kushagra Ghosh is a rising junior studying Computer Science in Duke Trinity College. Through his many years of community service teaching programming and senior citizen tech skill classes in his local communities, he has developed a love for sharing the wonders of technology with as many people as possible. He is very interested in understanding the ethical and social implications of software development based on the ACM Code of Ethics. In the future, he is striving to utilize programming and mathematical skills to pursue a career in technology.

Debosir Ghosh is a student in Duke’s Class of 2024 and is currently pursuing a major in Neuroscience with minors in Statistics and Music. He enjoys working with others and looks forward to being on Duke’s Team Kenan to bring awareness to topics and conversations on how we can continue to make Duke a better place for students. Aside from his studies and musical pursuits, Debosir also enjoys plane-spotting and studying aviation.

Sonia Green is a freshman from Durham, North Carolina who is interested in having ethical conversations with peers on campus. She enjoys hearing what others have to say and finding unique ways to connect to the person behind the opinion.

Stephanie Green is a rising senior studying Public Policy and Global Health from Metro Detroit, MI. She’s an avid Michigan fan, does child policy research, and is working toward a career as a child psychiatrist. She’s also a vegetarian foodie, traveler, and Disney enthusiast.

Rebecca He, a rising junior from AZ double majoring in biology and visual arts, loves to drink boba (bubble) milk tea. Her passion is to establish medical clinics around the globe to provide quality healthcare and to demonstrate the love of Christ. She also loves playing tennis, music, and advocating that pineapple is the BEST topping on pizza.

I’m Aphelion (Aphe) Astrachan, a sophomore majoring in philosophy and computer science. I’m interested in exploring a predominately two-level utilitarian approach to ethics in technology, as well as the implementation of Bayesian nets and Markov chains to create ethical decision-making operations. In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, watching bad movies with my friends, listening to a LOT of music, and reading manga and philosophy (Some of my favorites are Baudrillard, Camus, and I’m getting more into D+G).

Jill Jacobs is a sophomore from Frankfort, Kentucky who plans to double major in Political Science and Philosophy. As an alumna of the Envisioning Human Rights FOCUS cluster, Jill is also working to earn a Human Rights Certificate. After graduating, she hopes to attend law school. At Duke, Jill serves on the Human Rights Student Advisory Board and is a member of Duke-UNICEF. In her free time, she enjoys watching bad movies and, of course, talking about ethics.

Saagar Jain, a senior Biology major, is from Fort Lauderdale, FL. He enjoys playing basketball, traveling, trying new food, and playing with his dogs. He is involved in neurobiology research at Duke and is interested in the role of technology in healthcare.

Sabhyata Jha is a rising senior majoring in Data Science dual-enrolled at Duke University and Duke Kunshan University. Born and raised in Nepal, her interests lie in designing products and models that facilitate information access for technology use. She is particularly keen on dissecting the ethics and interpretability of big data and algorithms from a technological design perspective. She is involved with Ethical Tech Club at Duke, the South Asian Dance group Duke Lasya, and is a Student Ambassador at Duke Kunshan University. In her free time, she enjoys hosting sit-down dinners, watching stand-up comedy, and dancing.

Riya is a rising sophomore from Morrisville, North Carolina pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Economics. She is passionate about using technology to make an impact for social good, especially through education, which is why learning about the ethics of technology is exciting for her this summer! Outside of class, she looks to explore the intersection of technology with other fields through experiential opportunities such as Duke’s Impact Investing Group and Women in Tech. In her free time, Riya loves traveling, painting, and hiking.

Danielle Kapustin is a senior (philosophy major; biology & chemistry minors) from Charlotte, NC, pursuing a career in medicine. She loves group exercise classes, collaborative brainstorming, crafting, thin mint ice cream from the Parlour, philosophizing about her life purpose (for better or worse!), and spending time with friends and family.

Minjee Kim is a first-year from Seoul, South Korea majoring in Public Policy. She became involved with Kenan through their FOCUS program and the Team Kenan Fellowship. At Duke, she is also involved in Mock Trial and the Korean Undergraduate Students Association. When she’s not working or studying, you can find her listening to podcasts, crocheting bags, or rewatching The Good Place.

I'm a rising sophomore from West Windsor, New Jersey studying Computer Science and Economics.  Outside of classes, I work as an engineer for the Blockchain Lab at Duke and as a software developer for a local tech health startup dedicated to improving medical diagnoses.  After graduating, I plan to pursue a career in product management or venture capital in the blockchain sphere in order to help this emerging realm of technology innovate ethically.

Ishaan Kumar is a rising senior from London, England, majoring in Philosophy, with a Chemistry Minor and a Science and Society Certificate. He works as the technical manager for Bluesmith, the home of medical 3D printing at Duke, and volunteers at the Community Empowerment Fund, a local Durham non-profit. He likes jazz and citrus fruit.

Gianni Lacey-Howard, a junior Sociology major from Durham, NC, is working toward a career in community or family medicine. She is a QuestBridge Scholar, B.N. Duke Scholar, Cardea Fellow, and a member of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. Her hobbies include beading jewelry, dancing, painting, and exploring new foods.

Gianni Lacey-Howard is fourth-year undergraduate student from Durham, NC. She is studying Sociology with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. After graduation, she intends to work in sociological community-based research before pursuing an MD.  Ultimately, she aspires to work in the field of clinical academic and community medicine. She plans to use her experience and knowledge as a physician to implement cultural health and wellness initiatives in her tribal community and Indigenous communities throughout North Carolina.

Michael Larbie is a junior Biomedical Engineering major originally from Ghana, now from Matthews, NC. He is passionate about football, prosthetics, and global health, and hopes to help close the gaps in healthcare available to people across the US and around the world.

Evan Liu, a rising senior studying biology from Honolulu, HI, researches couples communication and racial implicit bias in healthcare, loves exploring cities’ food scenes, and is an avid basketball, football, and tennis fan. When not on Zoom, he is hiking, attempting to cook, playing spikeball, or sleeping on the beach.

Jenny Liu is a senior from College Station, TX, majoring in Neuroscience. She studies adolescent ethanol exposure in the Swartzwelder Lab, is happiest hiking in the mountains, and dabbles in playing the piano and guitar. She has become quite good at embroidery since the pandemic.

Gargi Mahadeshwar is a rising junior majoring in Computer Science. She is interested in the application of computer science to social good. This summer, she will be a Civic Digital Software Engineering Fellow at the National Institutes of Health. At Duke, she is the co-chair of the Human Rights Student Advisory Board, the Vice President of Community Development of DTech, and works at the Duke Human Rights Center. In her free time, she dances on the Duke Raas Team.

Mauro Mastrapasqua is a first-year student and is excited to be a part Team Kenan. He is from Nashville and is planning to major in physics at Duke. Outside of classes, he plays piano in the jazz ensemble and is also involved with Project Wild. In his free time, he likes to go for runs around East Campus and jam with friends.

David Moon is a junior majoring in biology. Born in South Korea and raised in Boston, he is currently researching cancer biology and enjoys playing golf and listening to music. In the future, he hopes to become a physician-scientist in oncology.

Jack Mulcrone, a rising junior Philosophy major from Vernon Hills, IL, is passionate about Chipotle, his two dogs, and a future career as a urologist. His hobbies include photographing abandoned buildings, playing basketball and tennis, and reading true ghost stories. He has recently discovered a love for Il Forno at WU.

Sreya Rahman is a rising senior from Houston, TX,studying neuroscience and chemistry. She is passionate about addressing healthcare inequities, her research on chronic pain and itch, and baking bread.

Gabriel Reis is a freshman from Brasilia, Brazil, planning on majoring in Public Policy and Cultural Anthropology. He is passionate about bringing people together through debate and has previously worked to advance that in his country with Models United Nations. He intends to continue to do so at Duke with Team Kenan, the Duke International Relations Association, and the Alexander Hamilton Society. In his free time, Gabriel enjoys watching Oscar-nominated movies and trying to predict the winners of the next ceremony.

Olivia Santos is a rising junior from Atlanta, GA, studying Evolutionary Anthropology and Religious Studies. She is passionate about reproductive justice and is working towards a career in women’s health. In her free time, she enjoys baking, playing music, and reading stories about women.

My name is Micah Schulman, and I am a freshman at Duke University from California, currently pursuing a major in Public Policy with a minor in Computer Science. I have been very interested in technology from a young age, but recently my interests have shifted more towards the intersection between ethics and technology. I am very excited about being able to participate in the Re-Imagining Tech Fellowship this summer!

I, Andrew Shaffer, grew up in NYC then moved out to Connecticut in 5th grade. A few interesting details that further describe who I am are that I have a twin sister, when I was 12 I fractured my skull and needed an immediate craniotomy, I am incredibly passionate about Classical civilizations/language, and I am leaning towards a CompSci major, but still not 100%.

Joyce is a junior double majoring in computer science and public policy. She is interested in harvesting the power of big data and technology to promote equality and sustainable development. In her free time, she loves travelling, cooking, or sitting in a cafe.

Julia Young is a native of Durham and is in her freshman year at Duke. She’s hoping to explore a major in International Comparative Studies or Political Science with a concentration in Security, Peace, and Conflict. Her favorite ethical topics to explore are those related to religion and fate. Fun Fact: Julia’s common app essay topic was about the branching tree multiverse theory and its impact on her moral compass.

Cassandra Zia Claros is a rising junior from the Philippines studying Computation and Design with a Track in Social Policy, an interdisciplinary major at Duke Kunshan University. She hopes to be involved in public policy and decision-making in an increasingly digital world that relies on technology.  Zia is currently involved in DKU's U-Corp Lab, where she is working on a marketing strategy for Meta-Inculand, a Chinese company that creates advertising in innovative technologies such as NFT's and the metaverse, and in Duke Pamilya, Duke University's Filipino student association. She loves fashion, looking for new artists to listen to on Spotify, and oil painting.